Can-soldering machine.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. G. HODGSON. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED DEG. 15, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Joh/L f Kagan;

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N0 MODEL.

Nw u? PATBNTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. G. HODGSON.

CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 15, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET` 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GEHODGSON, OF MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEV JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,388, dated March 24, 1903.

Application led December l5, 1902. Serial No. 135,196. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom t muy concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. HoDGsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Maywood, in the county of Cook and State of Illiuois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can -Soldering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can-soldering machines designed for fusing lo or remelting and owing or sweating into the seam a solder-rib previously applied to a canbody adjacent to but removed from the seamsection thereof.

The object of my invention is to providea lnachine of a simple, efficient, and durable construction for operation upon a square, rectangular, pyramidal, or other non-cylindrical can.

My invention consists in the means I emzo ploy to accomplish this object or resultthat is to say, it consists, in connection with a canbody carrier, of preferably an endless liexible carrier or chain provided with a series of rotatable can-holders adapted to grasp the cans z5 at one end and hold and rotate them in an upright position as they are being conveyed along by the carrier and two series of burners arranged one on each side of the path of the cans for projecting the vflame against the 3o vertically-rotating cans as they are carried along between the burners.

It further consists, in connection with these parts, of means for automatically ejecting the cans from the holders.

It further consists, in connectionwith the above-mentioned parts, of a cooling belt or conveyer for receiving the cans as they are ejected from the holders.

It further consistsin the novel construc- 4o tion of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown or described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view; Figs. 3 and 4,

vertical sections on lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a partial central vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 6 is a 5o detail sectional view of the rotating can-holdkcans from the machine. kveyer F travels ona guide or plate G, which ers. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the can-body broken away, partly in section.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the inachinelv Y B is an endless flexible 'can-body conveyer preferably consisting of two link chains traveling on the pulleys C C', the axes of which are horizontal, so that the web of the chaincarrier extends horizontally. The flexible chains B are provided at intervals with a series of can-holder bars B', which travel on suitable guides or tracks B2 B3 on the frame of the machine, and upon which bars B' the rotatable can-holders D are mounted. The' can holders D are furnished with clampsprings ol, preferably four in number, to enable them to grasp and properly hold a square, rectangular, or pyramidal can by one end. To rotate the holders, as the carrier travels along each of them is furnished with a gear D, which engages or meshes with a stationary rack D2, secured to the frame of the machine. Each of the can-body holders D is furnished with an ejector-disk CZ', attached to a sliding pin or shaft cl2, having a head d3, which engages a stationary inclined plate Z4 on the frame of the machine Yfor automatically operating the ejector-disk to discharge the'cans from the holder as the same are conveyed along by the carrier B and deposit the same upon the cooling belt or conveyer F, which is preferably an endless flexible conveyor traveling upon horizontal pulleys F F2.

F3 is a water bath or trough in which the lower loop of the cooling-conveyer F travels to cool and dampen vthe same, thus causing it to more quickly cool the cans and set the solder. v

H is a discharge-chute for delivering the The cooling-conis secured to the frame of the machine.

M M are a pair ot gas-pipes arranged one on each side of the path of the cans and provided each with a series of burners m for projecting gas-flames against the joint or seam to be soldered'and against thesolder-rib on the can-bodies X to fuse or melt the solder IOO and cause the same to ow or sweat down into the seam or joint to be soldered. The burners mpreferably consist simply of holes or perforations in the gas-pipes M, the ame being projected horizontally against the rorating cans as they travel along between the two rows of gas-burners. The solder-rib on the can-bodies X is located adjacent to but removed from the seam-section, so that when the solder-rib is fused or melted the solder will flow vertically downward between the flange of the can-head X and the end of the can-body.

To adapt the machine for operation upon cans whose bodies are of different heights or lengths, the tracks BZ B3 and bearings C3 for the shafts C2 of the pulleys C C' are all mounted upon brackets A', adjustable on the frame A by means of the adjustingscrew a, having hand-lever a'.

'lo adapt the machine for operation upon cans of different sizes and for operation upon both ends of cans whose ends are of different sizes, the can-holders D are removably secured to the gears D by which they are rotaled, so that can-holders of different sizes may be readily substituted. The can-holders D are thus removably secured, preferably, by set-screws d5.

ln operation the cans are placed in the rotaling chucks ,or holderstD as the carrier moves each along the upper-track B2, and the further movement of the carrier B conveys the cans in the holders along the lower track B3, thus inverting the cans as the saule pass around the pulley C and projecting the lower ends thereof between the two rows of burners m, thus heating the joint and fusing the solder-rib a: on the cans as they rotate and are conveyed along between the burners and causing the solder to {iow down and sweat into the joint. As each can holder or chuck nears the discharge end of the lower track B3 the ejector is automatically operated by engagement with the incline d and the'can is automatically ejected and deposited upon the cooling-belt F, which cools the can and sets the solder, while it still retains the same vertical or in upright position.

' In my invention as the rotating can holders or chucks grasp the can by one end only and come only in contact with the end which at the time is not being soldered and as the cans while being soldered are rotated and suspended in an upright position the joint to bel soldered and the solder-rib on the can-body to'be fused or melted are readily and economically heated, as there is no metal chuck or plate against this end of the can being fused or soldered, and for the same reason in my invention the soldering is very perfectly and evenly done throughout the whole circumference or perimeter of the can or joint, as the can is in an upright position and the joint maintained in a horizontal position, so that the solder does not tend to uuevenly flow to and collect at a portion of the seam as it tends to do, to a greater or less extent, where the can is attempted to be fused and soldered in an inclined position. This is a mattei' 0f importance and value in can-fusing machines where a limited and minimum amount of solder necessary for the formation of the joint is applied as a rib to the can-body prior to the soldering or fusing operation.

As in my invention'the cans are conveyed and rotated between the burners or heating devices in a positive, regular, and uniform manner by the carrier and the rotating holders thereon, the fusing or soldering operation may be perfectly and uniformly performed upon all cans without danger of burning or discoloring the same.

P is the driving-pulley for driving the machine. The cooling-conveyer F is driven from a pulley P on the shaft C2 through the connecting-belt P2 and pulley P3. The carrier B is driven centrally by the pulley P and travels at a uniform speed.

vVhile my machine isspecially adapted and intended for square, rectangular, pyramidal, and non-cylindrical cans, it may be also used for soldering round or cylindrical cans. y

I claiml. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with a can-carrier furnished with a seriesof rotatable can-holders, having each a clamp for grasping the can a't one end, of-two rows or series of burners between which the cans are conveyed and rotated, substantially as specified.

2. In a can-fusing machine, the combina- IOO horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a series of rotatable can holders or chucks mounted on the carrier, and provided each withV means for grasping or holding the can at one end only, with a series or row of burners, substantially as specified. i

3. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless'tlexible can-carrier, of horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, aseries of rotatable can holders or chucks mounted on the carrier, and provided each with means for grasping or holding the can at one end only, with two series or rows of burners between which the cans are conveyed and soldered, substantially as specified.

4:. In a can-fusingV machine, the combination with an endless flexible can-carrier, of horizont-al pulleys on which the carrier travels, a series of rotatable can holders or chucks mounted on the carrier, and provided each with means for grasping or holding the can at one end only, with a series or row of burners, each of said holders being provided with an ejector, and a stationary incline for automatically operating said ejectors, substantially as specified.

5. The combination withan endless flexible can-carrier provided with a series of rotatable can holders or chucks having each means for grasping and holding the can at IIO one end only, horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a rack for rotating said holders or chucks, and a series or row of burners, substantially as speciiied.

6. The combination with an endless flexible can-carrier, provided with a series of ro- 4tatable can holders or chucks having each 7. The combination with an endless flexible can-carrier, provided with a series of rotatable can holders or chucks having each means for grasping and holding the can at one end only, horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a rack for rotating said holders o1' chucks, a series or row of burners, each of said can holders or chucks being provided With a movable ejector, a stationary incline for automatically operating said ejector, and a cooling belt or conveyer, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with an endless flexible can-carrier, provided with a series of rotatable can holders or chucks having each means for grasping and holding the can atV one end only, horizontal pulleys on which the.

carrier travels, a rack for rotating said holders or chucks, a'series or row of burners, each of said can holders or chucks being provided with a movable ejector, a stationary incline for automatically operating said ejector, a

.cooling belt -or conveyer, and a water bath or trough through which the lower loop of the cooling belt or conveyer travels, substantially as specified.

9. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless iiexible carrier, of horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a

series of rotatable can-holders on the carrier,-

provided each with spring-clamps for grasping the can at one end only whereby the cans are suspended and rotated in an upright position, and heating devices for heating the cans and fusing the solder thereon, substantially as specied.

10. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless flexible carrier, of horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a series of rotatable can-holders on the carrier, provided each with spring-clamps for grasping the can at one end only whereby the cans are suspended and rotated in an upright position, heating devices for heating the cans and fusing the solder thereon, and a can-cooling conveyer below said can-carrier forre ceiving the cans in an upright position as they are discharged from the can-holders, substantiall y as specied.

11. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless flexible carrier, of horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a

4ing the can at one end only whereby the cans are suspended and rotated in an upright position, heating devices for heating the cans and fusing the solder thereon, a can-cooling conveyer below said can-carrier for receiving the cans in an upright position as they are discharged from the cau-holders, and means for au tomatically ejecting the cans from said holders, substantially as specified.

12. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless iexible carrier, of horizontal pulleys upon which the carrier travels, a series of rotatable can-holders on the carrier provided each with means for grasping the can at one end only, whereby the cans are suspended and rotated in an uprightposition, heating devices for heating the cans and fusing the solder, upper and lower tracks for the can-carrier, and adjustable brackets upon which said tracks and carrier-pulleys are mounted to adapt the machine for operation upon cans of different lengths, substantially as speciiied. Y

13. In a can-fusing machine, the combinationv with an endless flexible carrier, of horizontal pulleys upon which the carrier travels, a series of rotatable can-holders on the carrier provided each with means for grasping the can at one end only, whereby the cans are suspended and rotated in Yan upright position, heating devices for heating the cans and fusing the solder, upper and lower tracks for the can-carrier, and adjustable brackets upon which said tracks and carrier-pulleys are mounted to adapt the machine for operation upon cans of difterentlengths,said can-holders being removably mounted on the carrier, substantially as specified. v

14. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with aniendless flexible carrier having a pair of chains and cross-bars at intervals connecting the chains, of horizont-al pulleys on which the carrier travels, a series ot rotatable can holders or chucks mounted'on the cross-bars of the carrier and provided each with a gear for rotating the same, a stationary rack engaging said gears, and a series or row of burners for heating the cans as they are conveyed and rotated, substantially as specied.

15. In a can-fusingrmachine, the combination with a pair of carrier-chains, cross-bars at intervals connecting the chains, upper and lower tracks or guides for the cross-bars, horizontal pulleys for the cross-bars, a series of rotatable can-holders'mounted on the crossbars of the carrier and provided each with a gear for rotating the same and spring-clamps for grasping the can by its end, a stationary rack engaging said gears for rotating the holders, two series or rows of burners for heating the cans, can-ejector disks on said holders,and

a stationary inclined bar for operating saidl ejectors, substantially as specified.

16. The combination with an endless ilexiroc IIO

ble oan-carrier,provided With a series of rotatable can holders or chucks having eaeh means for grasping and holding the can at one end only, horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a rack for rotating said holders or chucks, a series or roW of burners, and a cancooling belt or oonveyer below said carrier, substantially as specified.

17. .In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless iexible can-carrier, of horizontal pulleys on which the carrier travels, a series of rotatable can holders or chucks mounted on the carrier, and provided each with means for grasping or holding the can at one end only, with a series or row of burn ers, and a cooling-belt beneath the path of the cans upon which the cans are delivered in an upright position as they are ejected from the holders, substantially as speoied.

18. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with a carrier havinga series of rotating can-holders adapted to grasp, suspend and rotate the cans in an upright position, of bn rners for heating the cans and fusing the solder rib thereon, substantially as specified.

19. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with a carrier having a series ofA rotating can-holders adapted to grasp, suspend and rotate the cans in an upright position, of two series or rows of burners between which the cans are carried and rotated, substantially as specified.

20. In a can-fusing machine, the combination with an endless flexible carrier, horizontal pulleys upon which the 'carrier travels, a series of rotatable can-holders on the carrier, provided each with means for'grasping the can by one end only whereby the cans are suspended and rotated in an upright position, and burners for heating the cans and fusing the solder rib thereon, substantially as specified.

JOHN G. HODGSON. Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND AnoooK. 

